A handheld instrument used by chiropractors who assert that slightly misaligned
vertebrae can be moved into place with this spring-loaded device.
Injuries that occur after an unexpected event, such as a fall, a sports injury, a job accident, or motor vehicle accident. Acute pain-The most common type of pain, often temporary in nature. Not lasting more than three or so months.
A form of chiropractic technique involving the application of gentle, yet firm, pressure to a bone. Adjustments employ a high velocity, low amplitude thrust. The goal of any adjustment is to restore the bone to its natural, or original, position.
These kinds of exercises generally involve large muscle groups and foster a strong and healthy heart and lung function.
A gradual breakdown, or deterioration, of the joint spaces in your musculoskeletal system.
A large vertebra, or upper bone, in the upper cervical spine.
These kinds of exercises challenge your equilibrium by performing such activities as standing on one foot, then the other, without support.
A common contained disc disorder. Bulging discs may push into the spinal canal.
A progressive and sometimes painful joint disorder caused by a compression of the median nerve of your hand. The compression causes swelling, which exerts pressure on the nerves.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical or neck area of the spine.
Comes from the Greek words, "chiro," meaning hand, and "practic," meaning practice, or treatment.
Also known as a doctor of chiropractic (D.C.), diagnoses and treats a broad range of physical conditions in patients with muscular, nervous, and skeletal problems, especially the spine.
Back pain episode that lasts more than three months.
The small bone at the lower tip of the spine. Also called the tailbone, a triangular-shaped bone at the bottom of the lumbar area.
Abbreviation for "doctor of chiropractic."
A form of traction using a device that stretches and releases the spine while the patient lies facedown.
A condition in which the inner core of the vertebral discs leak proteins that can inflame the nerve roots.
A pain management technique that applies electrical stimulation to affected nerves and muscles and encourages the body to release pain-killing chemicals, such as opiates and endorphins, and blocks pain signals from being transmitted to the brain.
Application of scientific knowledge to the work place in an effort to improve the well being and efficiency of workers.
A form of chiropractic treatment used to help manage pain, rehabilitate damaged soft tissues, such as muscles, ligament, and tendons, and restore normal range of motion and function.
A condition in which the cartilage in spinal joints wears thin. Your body begins producing material (called bone spurs) to shore up the cartilage. This material can calcify, or harden, causing stiffness in the joint. In some cases, facet joint syndrome can contribute to joint inflammation, muscle spasms, and later osteoarthritis.
The bony structures that allow you back and neck to easily move in different directions.
System of correcting pelvic and sacral "subluxations" to correct secondary subluxations elsewhere in the spine. The problem areas are located by motion palpation and "confirmed" with full-spine x-ray examination.
A form of therapy often used in patients who have chronic, or long-lasting pain. Heat therapy can involve many kinds of methods, from simple heating pads, wraps, and warm gel packs, to sophisticated techniques such as therapeutic ultrasound. While ice therapy is used to reduce swelling, heat therapy is used to relax the muscles and increase circulation. Both kinds of therapy help reduce pain.
A common non-contained disc disorder in which a disc has ruptured, usually at its weakest point. The vast majority of herniated discs occur in the lower back or lumbar region. In a herniated disc, part of the disc shifts to a position that irritates the nearby nerve for that spinal area.
A form of therapy involving the application of ice to treat many kinds of injuries, including those associated with back or neck pain. Ice causes the veins in the affected tissue area to constrict. This reduces the flow of blood while acting as kind of anesthetic to numb the pain. But when the ice is removed, the veins compensate by opening large, allowing a large volume of blood to rush to the affected area. The blood brings with it important chemicals that aid in the healing process.
Sudden binding that occurs when two joint surfaces are shifted out of their
normal alignment by an awkward movement that triggers muscle spasm. The
result may also be called an "acute locked back."
A form of chiropractic adjustment in which the chiropractor applies a firm, yet quick thrust to a misaligned vertebra while the patient lies on his or her side.
The five bones in the lower-back portion of the spine.
A form of chiropractic treatment, which involves the application of gentle yet firm pressure to muscles, joints and bones. The goal of manipulation is to restore normal joint motion and to eliminate pain.
Subluxation-based program of periodic spinal examinations and "adjustments"
alleged to help maintain the patient's health. Also called "preventative
maintenance."
A type of headache that some people get repeatedly over time. Migraines occur when blood vessels of the head and neck spasm or constrict, which decreases blood flow to the brain. Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels dilate (enlarge), resulting in a severe headache. Inflammation around the blood vessels also occurs in some cases.
A form of chiropractic adjustment using a hand technique to determine if your vertebrae are properly aligned.
Soft tissues that provide strength and assist with motor ability, or movement. Spinal muscles support your spine as it bends and flexes.
Bundles of nerves located near open spaces, or bony canals, in your spinal cord, just before they branch off into segmental spinal nerves and to various parts of the body. Nerve roots are named for the level of your spine they exit from, beginning with a letter and followed by a number. For example, a nerve root in the cervical spine may be called "C6," while a nerve root in the lumbar region may be called "L4."
"Side" muscles that stabilize your spine when you are standing upright, and help rotate your spine and maintain proper posture and spinal curvature.
A degenerative form of arthritis that mostly affects the elderly. In some, osteoarthritis may affect the spine's facet joints, making it extremely painful to bend or twist. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to break down and away from the joints. Stripped of their protective material, the joints begin rubbing against each other, causing pain and impeding movement. This action further irritates the surrounding nerves. Advanced forms of spinal osteoarthritis lead to disc collapse and other problems.
A gradual disintegration of bone. Osteoporosis can have a devastating impact on the joints and vertebrae of your spine. Osteoporosis causes the loss of mass and density in bones, making them highly susceptible to fractures.
Injuries that occur during the course of everyday activities, such as housework or exercise. Symptoms may include pain, muscle spasms, and stiffness.
A condition caused by the sciatic nerve getting pinched as it exits the spinal column. (Sometimes, it can mimic the symptoms of sciatica.) The pinching is sometimes caused by muscles spasms. Piriformis syndrome sometimes causes pain along the back of the thigh to the knee, or loss of feeling in the soles of the feet.
An advanced form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joint tissues, leading to pain, weakness, low red blood cell count (anemia) and loss of appetite.
The spinal joint that links the bottom of the spine with pelvic bone.
The triangular bone that serves as a base for the spinal column and connects
the pelvic bones.
A hunchback appearance of the spine may be a sign of, a condition caused by an enlargement or deformity of the roundback portion of the thoracic spine.
The main nerve traveling down the leg. Pain associated with the sciatic nerve usually originates higher along the spinal cord when nerve roots become compressed or damaged from narrowing of the vertebral column or from a slipped disk. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, or pain, which radiates to the buttocks legs and feet.
A condition in which the sciatic nerve is impaired. A bundle, or cable, of small nerves travels down the spine and into the pelvis area, where they come together to form the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve then branches off into each lower extremity, through the buttock and into the tops of the legs. People who have sciatica often complain of numbness or tingling in the feet or toes, or sharp, stabbing pains in the buttocks or shooting down the backs of their legs.
A medical term that refers to spinal curvatures. Scoliosis is a condition that almost always begins in early childhood. And it is exceedingly rare. In fact, only about 5 out of 1,000 American children usually develop curved spines enough to warrant treatment. Scoliosis affects only 1% of the world's population.
A misnomer for a ruptured or herniated disc. Discs don't actually slip.
The collective term for the bones of your back. It acts as protection for the spinal cord and allows the body to flex and bend in various directions.
A longitudinal structure of tissue, including nerves, that extends from the brainstem to the tailbone.
Infections of the spine, including spinal meningitis. While rare, spinal infections have been linked to nerve disorders. As in any infection, the affected area of the spine may become swollen, causing pressure on spinal nerves. In addition, the infection, left untreated, could lead to an abscess and permanently damage soft tissues and nerve cells.
Osteoporosis, or gradual disintegration of bone, in the spine. Spinal osteoporosis is hard to spot in its early stages. In advanced stages, people complain of chronic pain, loss of mobility, and shorter or humped over stature.
This helps you tone muscles and lose fat. It also helps to keep your bones keep your bones strong-which helps you avoid fractures as your bones weaken with age.
Focus on the abdominal and back muscles because these play a key role in supporting your spine and maintaining good posture. These help improve your range of motion and flexibility.
Target the soft tissues in your legs and surrounding your spine.
Misalignments in the bony structures of the spine. Subluxations can create pressure or irritation on the various nerves in your spine, and can cause a wide variety of symptoms throughout your body, such as localized pain, soreness, irregularity, and weakness. When pressure is applied on a nerve in your spine, the nerve energy is interrupted, and sometimes this can profoundly affect the function of other systems or organs in your body.
A form of chiropractic adjustment that entails lying on a specially designed table that drops when pressure is applied to a specific area. The dropping motion allows more gentle adjustments than some manual adjustments do.
A form of massage that involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm and stress.
A chiropractic adjustment performed on a table in which the supporting cushions
drop an inch or two when a thrust is applied to the spine. Practitioners locate
"subluxations" by checking leg lengths with the legs straight, the knees bent,
or the head turned to either side.
There are twelve vertebrae in the thoracic or upper-back portion of the spine.
A technique using sound waves that heat soft tissues. Diagnostic ultrasound is used to look at joints, nerve roots, tendons, ligaments and muscles and pinpoint signs of inflammation and scar tissue. In some cases, ultrasound helps the chiropractor identify the proper course of treatment.
The 24 large movable bony structures that form the support column of your back. Vertebral bodies are separated by small spaces containing discs.
The shock absorbers that are found between vertebral bodies. Each disc is essentially sandwiched between two vertebrae supported by ligaments. Composed of collagen, discs have a tough outer core and a soft inner core. When you are born, these discs are mostly water.
An injury to the cervical spine, or neck, and occurs when the muscles and other soft tissues are hyper-extended or hyper-flexed .
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